Interior construction in the upcoming Paramount Bar.
Twice a month, the city of Birmingham’s Design Review Committee convenes to discuss and possibly approve plans to make alterations to structures that fall within one of the city’s many historic and commercial revitalization districts. This column summarizes recent DRC activity, with projects grouped by type and location. This edition of Design Review (which continues a column which has moved from Magic City Post to The Terminal and now to Weld) concerns the results of several DRC meetings.
Commercial Projects
Birmingham Green
Richard Carnaggio of Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds returned to the committee to give an update on the plans for the demolition of a storefront at 117 20th Street North. Carnaggio assured the committee that construction would begin immediately after demolition (which was a concern of the committee when the project was originally presented). The initial plans for a limestone decorative enclosure have been altered to be stucco until the budget allows the installation of limestone.
Status: Approved. (September 11)
Mike Gibson of Appleseed Workshop discussed plans to install awnings to cover the existing outdoor seating area at the upcoming Paramount Bar at 200 20th Street North. The location of the awning in relation to the storefronts and the façade was discussed previously.
Status: Approved, with one abstention. (September 25)
Downtown West
Watson Bruhn Contractors presented plans for window replacement and signage updates for the former Alabama Business Furnishings warehouse at 1201 3rd Avenue North. The plans included window replacements and updating the painted sign on the building. The front door had previously been replaced and the new windows will match.
Status: Approved, with one opposed. (September 25)
Edwards Chevrolet is planning exterior renovations to their Third Avenue North location. The entrance and façade will be modernized and the remaining structure will be rehabilitated. The curved awning facing Third Avenue will be refaced with silver panels. The remaining building will be repaired and repainted. The new entrance will be the same as all other Chevrolet dealerships, a rectangular horseshoe style in “Chevy blue.” All signage requests will return to the committee at a later date.
Status: Approved. (September 25)
Five Points South
Larry Townley returned to the committee with the elevations for the new awnings at Dave’s Pub on 1128 20th Street South. Committee members reviewed the attachment points and specifications of the awning system.
Status: Approved. (October 9)
Midtown
Birchfield Penuel & Associates and Alabama Power Company provided the committee with current plans to update some of the technology at the Powell Avenue Substation. The substation serves the medical center and downtown electrical grid. This modular unit is the first stage in an overall equipment upgrade. A brick veneer matching the existing screen wall will be added to the metal exterior of the unit.
Status: Approved. (September 11)
Updated plans for the new Taco Bell at the corner of Seventh Avenue South and 22nd Street were presented to the committee. This presentation centered around the discussion developers had with a subcommittee assembled for this project.
Status: DRC approved a motion that referred the project back to the subcommittee for discussion and for developers to consult the traffic engineers. (September 25)
After working with the special subcommittee, updated plans for the new Taco Bell (see above) were presented to the committee. The building has been moved to the corner, a more pedestrian-friendly site, with access via 22nd Street South and the rear alley. Landscaping will be planted along Seventh Avenue South, where the existing curb cut will be filled in.
Status: The concept and site layout were approved by the committee, but Tacala LLC will need to return with landscaping details, colors, materials, and signage. (October 9)
LIV Development presented updated plans resulting from a subcommittee meeting convened to work with the developer on the new Parkside Apartments on First Avenue South across from Railroad Park. The design has been altered to move the courtyard from the hillside view of the park to overlooking the park’s First Avenue entrance. Retail options remain at the corners and the leasing office was moved to 18th Street. The structure was simplified and the suburban-esque “turrets” have been removed. The sidewalks along 17th Street will be widened and parallel parking will be available. All sidewalks surrounding the building will be a combination of brick and concrete. Light fixtures and trees will be spaced to match both Railroad Park and Regions Field, making the area more cohesive. Alabama Power Company has agreed to remove the power lines along 18th Street to accommodate landscaping.
Status: Approved, with one recusal. (September 25)
At the American Red Cross offices at 114 22nd Street South, there is an empty lot between two buildings. Golightly Landscape Architects is working with the organization to turn the lot into a landscaped courtyard. The current pillars and iron fencing will be removed and replaced by reclaimed wood walls. The base of the courtyard will be covered in gravel and raised plant beds installed throughout.
Status: DRC approved the first phase of demolition and excavation and the project will return to committee with details in plantings, materials, and signage. (October 9)
Nineteenth Street North
The most interesting news of the September 11 meeting was the plans to convert the old Parisian building (most recently known as the home to Booker T. Washington Insurance) at 1728 3rd Avenue North into a mixed-use retail and apartment building. Plans for the Parisian Apartments include enhancing the art deco style architecture with paint and stucco along the façade. The storefront will have aluminum reveals with metal transoms and cloth awnings. The drawings showed metal support columns supporting the new balconies. An engineering firm and a restaurant are tentatively planned as the ground floor tenants.
Status: The committee approved the exterior upgrades as well as the lighted blade and monogram signs, with AG Gaston Design to return with a tenant signage plan. (September 11)
Norwood
First Memorial Baptist Church at 3012 15th Avenue North in Norwood began a roof repair, but construction was halted due to an inspector’s visit discovering there was no permit. During the permitting process, the church discovered they needed to present plans to both the neighborhood association as well as Design Review. The neighborhood allows for metal roofing on commercial structures and approved the project.
Status: Approved. (September 25)
Parkway East
Wings Plus is moving into an old Checkers at 9525 Parkway East. The site has been neglected since the hamburger franchise closed their Birmingham locations. Both an interior and exterior renovation is planned. As for the exterior, the entire façade will receive some treatment. Red tiles and the existing Dryvit will be removed and replaced with brick. The restaurant will serve drive-through and walk-up customers only. A concrete pad previously used for outdoor dining will be renovated and updated tables and benches will be installed. There will also be a canopy over the drive-thru. The current landscaping will remain, but be cleaned up.
Status: Approved with the reminder that signage requests return to the committee. (October 9)
UAB / Midtown / Birmingham Green
The UAB Campus Planning Department presented plans for the installation of bus shelters throughout the campus, Midtown, and Birmingham Green areas. The university will institute a new bus system – “Blazer Express” – beginning January 2014. Six routes will serve 85 blocks of downtown and Southside. Out of 40 stops, 10 will have permanent shelters. UAB will work directly with the MAX bus service and the new shelters will replace shelters at any shared stops along the UAB planned routes. The shelter structure will be an anodized bronze steel with glass walls, bench seating, and route maps attached. Photovoltaic (solar) panels will be installed on the roofs to power the interior lighting. The university will also be responsible for keeping these shelters clean and graffiti-free.
Status: Approved. (October 9)
Signage Projects
Cultural District
David Brandt of Fravert Services presented a window signage proposal for the Personnel Board of Jefferson County’s offices at the 2121 Building on Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Boulevard. The treatments will resemble etched glass and will appear on ground level windows of the portions occupied by the Personnel Board.
Status: Approved. (October 9)
Five Points South
Lanthan Associates Architects returned to the committee to discuss additional signage for First Partners Bank at 2121 Highland Avenue. The updates to the previous signage package included directional signage to the location of the drive thru and the business hours labeled on the entrance.
Status: Approved. (October 23)
Five Points West
Applebee’s is updating the exteriors of their restaurants and one of the next sites to receive a facelift will be the Five Points West location at 2246 Bessemer Road. Scott Services is performing the renovation that will include new awnings and signs plus the removal of the gooseneck light fixtures.
Status: Approved. (September 11)
Midtown
Grifols Plasma Care has contracted Advance Sign to update the existing signage at 2101 3rd Avenue South location. The existing signage will be removed and replaced with backlit channel letters. A backlit box sign will be attached to the side of the building and new vinyl window graphics will be installed.
Status: Approved. (September 25)
Renovations at the new location of Beer Engineers at 112 14th Street South will begin in November. Pro Signs, Inc., requested permission for twice the usually allotted time (180 days instead of 90 days) to install a temporary sign along the roofline. The sign will read “Beer Engineers Better by Design Opening Here Soon.” Beer Engineers anticipates opening the facility in February 2014.
Status: Approved. (September 25)
Second Avenue North
Renovations of the old Metro Bar are completed. Andrew Collins appeared before the committee to present (along with BIG Communications) the new signage for the Collins Bar at 2125 2nd Avenue North. Working with the existing sign, the metal will be treated with a red powder coat and local artist Bonard Hughins will paint the sign. The committee members expressed concern with the sign language and recommended Collins consult the ABC Board language controls.
Status: The sign concept was approved and, once the language is updated it can be brought to staff rather than returning to the committee. (September 25)
Theatre & Arts District
The Whitmire Lofts.
Mike Gibson of Appleseed Workshop presented plans for the metal sign for the upcoming Whitmire Lofts at 1826 3rd Avenue North. The powder-coated steel sign will include cut out letters reading “Whitmire 1826.”
Status: Approved, with one abstention. (September 25)
Renovations to the exterior and the lobby of the historic Lyric Theatre on 3rd Avenue North continue to make progress. Fravert Services has been engaged to develop the signage for the awnings being installed over the new doors. As of this writing, a two-line, internally lit marquee has been installed and will be used with antique letters donated by the Alabama Theatre.
Status: Approved, with one recusal. (September 25)
Tuscaloosa Avenue
Bell Company, Inc., has been contracted by Baptist Princeton Hospital to work with Dr. Joe’s Bike Shop (1001 Tuscaloosa Avenue SW) on signage replacement. The hospital system has taken on the project of assisting small businesses in the area and this signage replacement is one of their latest efforts.
Status: Approved. (October 23)
Woodlawn
REV Birmingham and the Revive Project presented the plans for the “It’s Nice to Have You in Birmingham” mural as well as door signage at one of the pop-up shop sites on First Avenue South.
Status: Approved. (October 23)
Residential Projects
Avondale
Richard Little Construction presented plans for a historic residential property on 5th Avenue South. The neighborhood association approved the plans for returning the site to its original construction. The gable window will be replaced with a more appropriate fixture. The wood siding will be updated and the foundation will be painted to match the siding.
Status: Approved. (September 11)
A second Avondale project was presented by James Hindman of Jones Warren Construction. This site is considered one of the premier houses of the area on 39th Place South. The exterior aluminum siding is to be removed and replaced with a new vinyl siding that has the look of a wood texture. Black shutters will be added to the windows and new gutters will be installed.
Status: Approved. (September 11)
Forest Park
A property owner presented plans for the demolition and replacement of a garage at a Forest Park residence on Conroy Road. The neighborhood association approved the project, subject to receiving a variance from the zoning department. The finishes and windows on the new garage will match the residence.
Status: Approved. (September 11)
Phelan Park
Bento Construction was hired to work on a house on 15th Street South in the Phelan Park historic district that had been damaged by fire. Renovations include the replacement of exterior doors, windows, stairwell and siding. The neighborhood association approved the plans with the condition that the remaining un-sided walls be painted the same color as the siding.
Status: Approved. (September 25)
Redmont Park
A residential renovation in Redmont is underway that will renovate the front entrance as well as the front façade of a home on Berwick Road. The neighborhood association has already discussed the project and approved it on the condition that all of the windows facing the street match.
Status: Approved. (September 11)
The neighborhood association also approved a residential renovation on Lanark Road that included replacing the existing windows and a bathroom addition. The association insisted the windows be changed to casement style and to add eight inches to the addition setback. The homeowner and architect have made additional changes to include double-hung windows similar to the original.
Status: Approved. (October 23)
Roebuck Springs
The owner of a project previously approved by the committee in February returned to the committee. Since the original plans had been approved, any deviation needs to be presented for another approval. In this case, the Cumberland Drive property owner opted to retain a cement parking pad initially planned for demolition. The resurvey was approved and the parking pad cannot be seen from the street.
Status: Approved. (October 9)